UCLA coach Steve Alford talks about three Bruin draftees

In this file photo, Zach LaVine of the UCLA Bruins is guarded by Chasson Randle of the Stanford Cardinal during a semifinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 14, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. LaVine was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images file)

In Steve Alford’s estimation, it wasn’t just Zach LaVine’s freakish athleticism that vaulted the freshman into the elite lottery portion of Thursday’s NBA draft.

Wearing the UCLA letters across his chest had plenty to do with LaVine becoming the 13th overall selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Running a close second was the up-tempo offense employed by Alford in his first season as UCLA’s coach.

“(LaVine) came in and he used the brand and this system,” Alford said. “I’ve always said it’s a very, very powerful brand and I think our style of play getting up and down the floor allows somebody like that to flourish and he had a tremendous freshman year.”

Though LaVine needed just 37 college basketball games to achieve such lofty status, Alford didn’t know he had a lottery pick on his hands when the 6-foot-5 freshman reported to Westwood last summer.

“I don’t think you ever think that,” Alford said. “The NBA is a whole different level and mind set. We saw him this summer and he had incredible athleticism.

“To say we saw him being a lottery pick last summer, no.”

The names of LaVine and UCLA teammates Jordan Adams and Kyle Anderson will be linked for a long time, if history is any indication.

Adams was picked 22nd by the Memphis Grizzlies and Anderson 30th by the San Antonio Spurs, making them the first UCLA trio in 35 years to be selected in the first round of an NBA draft.

What currently divides them, however, is a contrast in athleticism.

The agility and strength of LaVine, a lanky 19-year-old who started just one game at UCLA, tested spectacularly on the pre-draft circuit.

Adams and Anderson, both sophomores, took significantly different paths to the first round.

Anderson, the last pick of the first round, was one of the most productive players in college basketball last season. He is one of three in the last 30 years to average at least 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a season.

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But plenty of questions surround the 6-9 New Jersey native’s defensive ability, a similar predicament facing Adams, who made his mark averaging 17.2 points per game last season.

“I think athleticism is way overrated for the most part,” Alford said. “You can either play or you can’t play and Jordan really understands how to play. You could give me the most athletic guy that we’ve played against collegiately this year and Jordan probably outplayed him because of being smarter and being tougher.”

To Adams’ credit, the 6-foot-5 guard was more than just a scorer. His 95 steals as a sophomore set a single-season school record and certainly add a dynamic that interests scouts concerned with his defense.

Alford echoed some of his sentiments about Adams when referencing Anderson.

Anderson’s statistics make a compelling case for Alford’s argument that he is a truly unique player with more than athleticism to lean on at the next level.

Despite standing 6-9, Anderson served as UCLA’s point guard and was billed as one of the best passers in the draft. He more than proved he could run an offense, giving him a unique skill set that seems well suited for the Spurs.

“As good a basketball IQ as I’ve coached,” Alford said of Anderson. “Sometimes a lot of people get wrapped up in athleticism and being able to jump over the backboard, but do you know how to play the game?

“I told Anderson (Friday) morning, you don’t change who you are but you’ve got to take advantage of going to a franchise, an organization that really gets it from the bottom all the way to the top. So listen. Listen to people. You’ve always been coachable. Make sure you stay that way.”